POMEGRANATE, MINT AND ROSE SPRITZ

I’m a big fan of sparkling water. It’s the way I get bubbles into my life these days seeing as I’m not a fan of soft drink. You can add so many different fresh real flavours to it to make it feel like more of a treat and this mocktail is oh so fancy. It can even be made into an indulgent cocktail.

This blog post is sponsored by Sodastream Australia

The lovely folks at SodaStream Australia recently sent me a SodaStream Power to have a play with (this one!) and I’ve had so much fun trying out different flavour combinations. This is hands down my favourite. It’s so refreshing and the flavours really pop. The perfect thing to drink on a spring or summer afternoon.

The machine looks so sleek and pretty I’m happy to have it out on the bench in my kitchen too. Did you see the kitchen tour I did on my Instagram? I’ll do another one soon so keep an eye out for it (and this new toy in it!).

You can also use SodaStream’s all natural raspberry flavoured syrup in this rather than the pomegranate syrup and add raspberries instead of pomegranate seeds for a slightly different, but still really yummy, version of this. Follow the instructions on the bottle for the syrup mix and add it to the soda water bottle post carbonation rather than to the bottom of the glass.

Adding the pomegranate syrup and rose water to this takes it to another level and also means that it’s beautiful with a shot of gin added too, for when you’re after a cocktail because the mock kind just won’t cut it. Or just because it’s Friday!

It also looks oh so pretty with the rose petals on top but they’re totally optional – the rose water will provide the rose flavour anyway.

More about that syrup: I originally made it for a Yotam Ottolenghi style Eton mess, adding the sumac to it was all his genius, I’ve just cut down the sugar. The sumac flavour in it complements the lime in the drink and adds a really slight spice to the drink. I haven’t made this very sweet as I wanted it be a refreshing spritz that would quench your thirst rather than a super sweet drink. Feel free to up the sweetness by adding a little extra maple syrup. Or if you want more pomegranate flavour add more of the syrup to the base of the drink.

These are great to serve to guests because they look so amazing, but they’re also great to serve to just you because you so fancy now aren’t you?

Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients

Pomegranate syrup

1 Tbs maple syrup

2Tbs pomegranate molasses

½ tsp sumac

3 Tbs water

4 limes, 2 cut in ½ and the other 2 cut into 6 wedges each.

4 Tbs rose water

1 cup mint

1 pomegrante, seeds removed

1 litre soda water, use the highest setting on your Soda stream as the maximum bubbles are great in this.

4 tsp rose petals (optional)

Directions

You can make this in a jug or individual glasses. Either way layer the pomegranate, mint and lime slices in the glasses first for maximum prettiness.

Add a tsp of pomegranate seeds to each glass, follow with 2-3 teaspoons (add more if you would like it sweeter) of pomegranate syrup, 1 Tbs rose water and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to muddle this a little, crushing some of those pomegranate seeds into the syrup (you can skip this step if you don’t like fiddly things).

Add a few ice cubes, then some mint leaves, a wedge of lime and another tsp of pomegranate seeds. Add more ice and then another wedge of lime, another few mint leaves and another tsp of pomegranate seeds. Repeat one more time if using a tall glass. If you have leftover syrup you can drizzle a little extra over the top.

Use your SodaStream to make your soda water. Top each glass with soda water. Use a stra or long thin spoon to stir briefly to mix in the syrup. Sprinkle with rose petals and enjoy!

Feel free to add a shot of a good quality botanical gin to the syrup, rose water and lime juice and the start to turn this mocktail into a cocktail!